This lesson has the children and teacher creating and conducting a survey about pets of friends and family, and eventually analyzing the results.. The teacher leads the children to develop questions for the survey, sending and receiving the survey, and charting the results before discussing them. The experiences described support growth in language, mathematics, science, geography, and overall analytical thinking. The teacher asks questions before, during, and after the process which brings more depth to the activities.
This process could lead to deeper understanding about pets, their environments, and their owners if it was embedded into a complete project about the children's pets or animals in general. Additionally, it is great that family involvement is encouraged. This experience could be implemented within a range of settings and could involve young children of varied skill levels, with appropriate adult support. (author/nmb)
Number, Number Sense and Operations for Early Childhood
Number and Number Sense
8.
Represent quantity using invented forms (e.g., child's marks to represent a quantity of objects).
9.
Write numerical representations (e.g., scribbles, reversals) or numerals in meaningful context (e.g., play situations).
11.
Compare and order whole numbers up to 5.
Geography for Early Childhood
Places and Regions
Data Analysis and Probability for Early Childhood
Data Collection
2.
Place information or objects in a floor or table graph according to one attribute (e.g., size, color, shape or quantity).
Statistical Methods